NFHS Jewelry Rant

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

So, obviously, my anal-ness over jewelry is misplaced. Tell it to my three grandkids who don't have a paternal grandfather because he died when their dad was less than a year old. His dad was garroted at second base by his own necklace.

Tell it to the girl six years ago who was doing her job on a steal play at second base. Baserunner came sliding in, helmet went askew, baserunner's earring left a scar like barbed wire just above the left eye of the second baseman. Less than an inch lower it wouldn't have been a scar just above her left eyebrow, it would have been her eye. The scar is still bad enough. It looks like she has a jack (the child's toy, not the tire thing) embedded in her forehead.

I can tell you more ... and I will if it doesn't sink in.

What other rules do you people ignore? Does the whole ball have to be over the plate for it to be a strike? Do your half innings only require two outs, or four outs, or do you mix it up because you don't want to enforce the three out requirement this half inning?

Yes coaches are responsible. We also know some coaches are not. In NFHS, the rules are plain and they are there for a purpose. It is YOUR responsibility to enforce them. If you are NOT going to enforce them, then step away from the game. NFHS has a different purpose than ASA, NSA, USSSA, ISA, Dixie, Babe Ruth, Little League, PONY, 5 Star or anything else. (And in the other organizations neither you nor the coaches are acting in loco parentis, which is why you have to rule it to be a danger. When I do ASA, there is NOTHING around the neck of any player unless it is religious or medical.) It's is YOUR JOB to do YOUR JOB according to the rules, manuals and directives of NFHS. That includes the jewelry rule.

I just hope it doesn't take a death on YOUR field to get you to enforce the rule. Will it take a maiming or a death on your field to make you decide to more diligent in your enforcement?
If for no other reason, enforce it in memory of Dana Wall and the life that could have been.

Nice rant, if a bit over the top. Nowhere did I say I do not enforce the rule. However, I do not have the players line up holding their bats at "present arms" (or is it "inspection arms") for an equipment and uniform inspection, either. I don't ignore jewelry, but I don't inspect for it, either. It is mentioned at the plate meeting for High School games.